Category: Temporary

Patrick Ryan originally shared this post:

Wild Rose Brewery Cherry Porter Porter at 6.5% ABV (C$13.99 at Quarry Park Calgary Co-Op, 1 l, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 20-Mar-2016)

Appearance: clear brown with amber-brown highlights, one finger of light beige head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: roasty malt, coffee, chocolate, light cherry. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, mild bitter and light tart finish. (3/5)

A fairly well-balanced porter, with an appropriately light(ish) body. Not a lot of cherry coming through – really more of an undifferentiated tart fruit, and I’m not sure I’d’ve identified it as “cherry” without the label. Opens up slightly upon warming, but not dramatically so. Ultimately, it’s not bad, but it’s not great, either. (12/20)

My 221st from the 2010 Edition (210th from the 2013 edition), and 232nd combining both editions.

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Patrick Ryan originally shared this post:

Carlow Brewing Company O'Hara's Irish Stout Irish Dry Stout at 4.3% ABV (C$4.21 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, best before 1-Jan-2017, reviewed 17-Mar-2016)

Appearance: nearly opaque deep brown with brown highlights, one finger of fluffy beige head diminishing rapidly to a thin skim, patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: roasty malts, cocoa, coffee, berries. (8/10) Taste: low sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (8/10) Palate: medium-full slightly creamy body, moderate carbonation, dry moderate bitter finish. (3/5)

Smooth and easy drinking Irish Dry Stout, with low sweetness and a pleasant dry bitter finish. Definitely something one could drink a lot of. (15/20)

My 220th from the 2010 Edition (209th from the 2013 edition), and 231st combining both editions.

7.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Cascade Brewing Cascade Kriek Ale Flanders Red at 8.5% ABV (C$27.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 750 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 16-Feb-2016)

Appearance: clear red-tinged amber-brown, one finger of creamy light purple head, good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: dark cherry, malt vinegar, oak, light earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high tart, mild bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-high carbonation, dry tart finish. (4/5)

Excellent. Dark cherries without a hint of cough syrup, and a lovely umame brown malt vinegar. A really nice kriek built on a solid Flanders Red base. (16/20)

My 219th from the 2010 Edition (208th from the 2013 edition), and 230th combining both editions.

8/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Patrick Ryan originally shared this post:

Brouwerij Bosteels DeuS Brut des Flandres Bière de Champagne at 11.5% ABV (C$20.61 at NLC Stavanger, 750 ml, best before 1-Jun-2016, reviewed 12-Feb-2016)

Appearance: clear pale gold with a tall white head that diminishes rapidly to one finger with good retention and lacing. (4/5) Aroma: apples and pears, spices, white grape must. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter, light tart. (7/10) Palate: light body, high to lively carbonation, off-dry crisp and lightly tart moderately warming finish. (4/5)

Pretty easy drinking for a massive ABV beast, buoyed by a lively carbonation. I see the champagne comparisons, but unfortunately I think there’s an element of it showing its age (again – the last Bière de Champagne I tried was well past its best-before). Even though it’s four months before its BB date, I think the cidery apple has gone a touch brown, and I can’t help but think this would be nicer – crisper and cleaner – were it fresher. But hey! It’s a 1001 beer, from my local distributor? I don’t remember the last time that happened! (15/20)

My 218th from the 2010 Edition (207th from the 2013 edition), and 229th combining both editions.

7.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Old Yale Brewing Co. Sasquatch Stout Stout at 5% ABV (C$5.99 at Quarry Park Co-Op, 650 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 11-Feb-2016)

Appearance: opaque black with brown margins, two fingers of rocky light beige head, moderate retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dark roast malt, grassy hops, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body tending slightly to the watery, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration mild bitter and lightly tart finish. (3/5)

Another less than memorable BC stout. It’s not great, nor is it terrible: it’s OK. Not sure why it’s won awards, to be honest, but hey, if it works for you, have at it. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Patrick Ryan originally shared this post:

Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout American Double / Imperial Stout at 10% ABV (US$3.15 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 9-Feb-2016)

Appearance: opaque black with only the merest hint of relief around the margins, one finger of medium dense light beige head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: chocolate, coffee and dark roast malt notes, liquorice, light metallic. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-full slightly slick body, moderate carbonation, bitter and mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Black? Check. Chocolate? Check. Stout? Check. Well, that’s that, then, isn’t it? Oh, you wanted more? OK, well, it starts off with heavy chocolate and not much else, but eventually that settles down and some dark roasty notes come through. Unfortunately, so does a light metallic tinge, particularly on the tongue. It’s not terrible, by any means, but I’ve definitely had better chocolate stouts. On the up side, the double-digit ABV is barely noticeable and really only presents as a mild warming. (14/20)

My 217th from the 2010 Edition (206th from the 2013 edition), and 228th combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Patrick Ryan originally shared this post:

Lagunitas Brewing Company Brown Shugga American Barleywine at 9.8% ABV (Trade – thanks, Bayman 4048!, 355 ml, no bottle date or best before, reviewed 8-Feb-2016)

Appearance: clear medium to deep amber with one finger of fluffy light beige head, good retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: brown sugar, resiny pine, light earth. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, bitter and mildly warming finish. (4/5)

Not your typical barleywine – the brown sugar is lighter than the caramel or toffee I normally associate with the style, but more importantly there's a big resiny hop note over top. This is barleywine on steroids, and I like it a lot. (16/20)

My 216th from the 2010 Edition (205th from the 2013 edition), and 227th combining both editions.

8/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Patrick Ryan originally shared this post:

Samuel Smith Old Brewery Yorkshire Stingo English Strong Ale at 8% ABV (US$12.62 at Specs Main Houston, 550 ml, bottle date 2012, reviewed 5-Feb-2016)

Appearance: nearly opaque amber-brown with one finger of medium dense ivory head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: raisin, stone fruit, toffee, slightly vinous oak. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild tart, mild alcohol. (8/10) Palate: medium slightly slick body, lively to moderate carbonation, lightly tart and warming finish. (4/5)

“English Strong Ale”? That’s about as helpful a designation as “American Strong Ale” – which is to say, no bloody use whatsoever. Personally, I call this a barleywine – though it’s got elements of a quad or abt, as well. It’s not overly complex, but I have to say, I enjoy it. It doesn’t seem like the combination of sweet dark fruit and almost white wine vinous characteristics would work all that well, but in fact it does. In particular, the tartness on the tongue persists through the finish and stops the toffee malt from becoming mouth-coating or cloying – think christmas pudding with a not-too-sweet lemon sauce. (15/20)

My 215th from the 2010 Edition (204th from the 2013 edition), and 226th combining both editions.

7.5/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Patrick Ryan originally shared this post:

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Fancy Lawnmower Kölsch at 4.9% ABV (US$2.09 at Specs Main Branch, 355 ml, bottle date 30-Nov-2015, reviewed 1-Feb-2016)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of nearly pure white head, good retention and minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: crackery malt, grassy, honey. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate carbonation, crisp finish. (3/5)

Yep, that’s definitely a lawnmower beer, though I’m not sure it’s all that fancy: in terms of colour, weight, body, presence… by whatever metric you want to use, this is an extremely light beer. Not badly done, though, by any means. The decent crisp grassy hop finish makes it an effective thirst quencher – in other words, a lawnmower beer. (12/20)

My 214th from the 2010 Edition (203rd from the 2013 edition), and 225th combining both editions.

6/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Patrick Ryan originally shared this post:

Traquair House House Ale Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy at 7.2% ABV (C$9.49 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, best before 28-Mar-2025, reviewed 18-Jan-2016)

Appearance: clear deep amber with a short dense light beige head, good retention and patchy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: dark malt, dried fruit, wood. (7/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, mild bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium-full slightly creamy body, soft carbonation, bittersweet finish. (4/5)

Another decent brew from Traquair house. Not overly sweet, and decent depth of flavour. These guys might be able to change my opinion on wee heavies… (14/20)

My 213th from the 2010 Edition (202nd from the 2013 edition), and 224th combining both editions.

7/10 #1001beers #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com